Truck

ABSTRACT

A truck  1  includes a cab  3  in which a driver&#39;s seat is provided, a van  5  provided rearward of the cab and serving as a load container, wheels  7   a,    7   b,    7   c , and  7   d , etc. These components are attached to frame members  9   a,    9   b,    9   c,    9   d,    9   e,    9   f , etc. An engine  13  is provided between the frame members  9   a  and  9   b . A drive-force transmission apparatus which includes a clutch  15 , a transmission  17 , etc. is provided rearward of the engine  13  so as to transmit drive force from the engine  13  to the wheels (driven wheels  7   b  and  7   d ). A radiator  19  is provided forward of the engine  13  so as to cool the engine  13 . A windbreaking plate  25  is provided above a portion of the engine  13  exposed from a gap  30  between the cab  3  and the van  5  so as to prevent a downward air flow  26  from hitting the engine  13  to thereby hinder the flow of radiator intake air  32.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a truck.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, the mainstream of motor-lorries such as trucks is acab-over-type truck in which the bonnet is omitted in order to increasethe load capacity of the van, which serves as a load container.

Because of the structure of having the bonnet omitted, such acab-over-type truck carries the radiator, engine, etc. under the cab.Recently, the quantity of heat radiated by the radiator tends toincrease due to an increased output of the engine, and the flow ofcooling air within the engine compartment tends to deteriorate becausethe engine compartment is shielded in consideration of noise regulation.

In order to improve the flow of cooling air, in some cases, a separatefan or the like is provided within the engine compartment so as to suckand forcedly exhaust air within the engine compartment, as is knownfrom, for example, the following publication.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No.2002-36888

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, such a truck has problems of high cost as well as a problem ofrequiring a space necessary for providing a separate fan or the like.

The present invention has been accomplished in light of the aboveproblems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a truckwhich can improve the engine cooling performance inexpensively.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to achieve the above-described object, according to a firstaspect of the invention, there is provided a truck characterized bycomprising a load container provided rearward of a cab and projectingupward from the cab; an engine provided under the cab; a radiatorprovided forward of the engine; and a windbreaking section providedbetween the cab and the load container.

The load container may be formed to have a width equal to or smallerthan that of the cab, and the windbreaking section may be provided abovethe engine and formed to extend over a width approximately equal to thewidth of the cab.

The load container may be formed to have a width greater than that ofthe cab, and the windbreaking section may be provided above the engineacross a center line of the engine with respect to a width direction ofthe truck and formed to extend over a width approximately equal to thewidth of the engine.

The windbreaking section may assume a plate-like shape generallyextending horizontally.

The plate-shaped windbreaking section may assume the form of a flatplate horizontally extending in a width direction of the cab.

The plate-shaped windbreaking section may be bent such that thewindbreaking section is upwardly convex at a central portion thereof inthe width direction of the cab.

The plate-shaped windbreaking section may be curved such that thewindbreaking section is upwardly convex.

Further, according to a second aspect of the invention, there isprovided a truck characterized by comprising a load container providedrearward of a cab and projecting upward from the cab; an engine providedunder the cab; a radiator provided forward of the engine; a drive-forcetransmission apparatus provided rearward of the engine; and awindbreaking section provided between the cab and the load container.

The load container may be formed to have a width equal to or smallerthan that of the cab, and the windbreaking section may be provided abovethe drive-force transmission apparatus and formed to extend over a widthapproximately equal to the width of the cab.

The load container may be formed to have a width greater than that ofthe cab, and the windbreaking section may be provided above thedrive-force transmission apparatus across a center line of thedrive-force transmission apparatus with respect to a width direction ofthe truck and formed to extend over a width approximately equal to thewidth of the drive-force transmission apparatus.

The windbreaking section may assume a plate-like shape generallyextending horizontally.

The plate-shaped windbreaking section may assume the form of a flatplate horizontally extending in a width direction of the cab.

The plate-shaped windbreaking section may be bent such that thewindbreaking section is upwardly convex at a central portion thereof inthe width direction of the cab.

The plate-shaped windbreaking section may be curved such that thewindbreaking section is upwardly convex.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, since a windbreaking plate isprovided on the truck, the engine cooling performance can be readilyimproved at low cost. Accordingly, an engine of high output can bemounted on the truck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 View showing a truck 1.

FIG. 2( a) View showing the truck 1.

FIG. 2( b) View showing the truck 1.

FIG. 2( c) View showing the truck 1.

FIG. 3 Graph showing the relation between the travel-direction length 29of a windbreaking plate 25 and water temperature drop of a radiator 19.

FIG. 4 Perspective view showing a truck 45.

FIG. 5( a) View showing the truck 45.

FIG. 5( b) View showing the truck 45.

FIG. 5( c) View showing the truck 45.

FIG. 6( a) View showing a truck 61.

FIG. 6( b) View showing the truck 61.

FIG. 6( c) View showing the truck 61.

FIG. 7( a) View showing a truck 71.

FIG. 7( b) View showing the truck 71.

FIG. 7( c) View showing the truck 71.

FIG. 8( a) View showing the windbreaking plate 25 and a windbreakingplate 53.

FIG. 8( b) View showing the windbreaking plate 25 and the windbreakingplate 53.

FIG. 8( c) View showing the windbreaking plate 25 and the windbreakingplate 53.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 . . . truck    -   3 . . . cab    -   5 . . . van    -   7 a . . . wheel    -   9 a . . . frame    -   13 . . . engine    -   15 . . . clutch    -   17 . . . transmission    -   19 . . . radiator    -   21 . . . cab width    -   23 . . . van width    -   25 . . . windbreaking plate    -   26 . . . downward air flow    -   27 . . . width    -   29 . . . travel-direction length    -   31 . . . stable region    -   32 . . . radiator intake air flow    -   49 . . . downward air flow    -   51 . . . side air flow    -   53 . . . windbreaking plate    -   55 . . . engine width

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will next be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 1, 2(a), 2(b),and 2(c) show a truck 1 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is aperspective view of the truck; FIG. 2( a) is a side view of the truck;FIG. 2( b) is a view of the truck as viewed in the direction of arrow Ain FIG. 2( a); and FIG. 2( c) is a view of the truck as viewed in thedirection of arrow B in FIG. 2( a).

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2(a), and 2(b), the truck 1 includes a cab 3 inwhich a driver's seat is provided; a van 5 provided rearward of the caband serving as a load container; wheels 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, and 7 d; etc.These components are attached to frame members 9 a, 9 b, 9 c, 9 d, 9 e,9 f, etc.

An engine 13, which serves as a motor, is provided between the framemembers 9 a and 9 b. A drive-force transmission apparatus which includesa clutch 15, a transmission 17, etc. is provided rearward of the engine13 so as to transmit drive force from the engine 13 to the wheels(driven wheels 7 b and 7 d). A radiator 19 is provided forward of theengine 13 so as to cool the engine 13.

The radiator 19 introduces air by use of an unillustrated fan or thelike provided therein and cools cooling water inside the radiator bymeans of the introduced air.

Notably, the introduced air flows out of the rear side of the radiator19, passes the space around the engine 13 and the drive-forcetransmission apparatus, and is exhausted to the outside of the truck.The continuous flow of air will be referred to as radiator intake airflow 32.

It is to be noted that a cab width 21 is made equal to a van width 23,or the van width 23 is made smaller than the cap width 21, so as toprevent generation of side air flows 51, which will be described later.

In the first embodiment, a portion of the engine 13 is exposed to a gap30 between the cab 3 and the van 5. However, a windbreaking plate 25(windbreaking section) is provided above the exposed portion.

As shown in FIGS. 2( a) and 2(c), during travel, a wind produced as aresult of travel (travel wind) hits a portion of the van 5 higher thanthe cab 3, and produces a downward flow 26 of air, which flows throughthe gap 30 between the cab 3 and the van 5 and hits the exposed engine13 to thereby increase the pressure in the vicinity of the engine 13.

The applicant of the present invention has confirmed that since theradiator intake air flow 32, which is the flow or air passing throughthe radiator 19, is exhausted to the space around the engine 13, if thepressure in the vicinity of the engine 13 increases, air encountersdifficulty in flowing through that space, whereby there arise theproblems of decreased quantity of air passing through the radiator 19and deteriorated performance of cooling the engine 13.

In the first embodiment, the windbreaking plate 25 is provided on therear surface of the cab 3. This prevents the downward air flow 26 fromhitting the engine exposed to the gap 30 between the cab 3 and the van5. Thus, an increase in the pressure in the vicinity of the engine 13 isprevented, whereby a decrease in the radiator intake air flow 32 can beprevented, along with deterioration in the engine cooling performance.

Although a width 27 of the windbreaking plate 25 is equal to the cabwidth 21, a length 29 of the windbreaking plate 25 in the traveldirection is not necessarily required to be equal to the gap 30 betweenthe cab 3 and the van 5.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relation between the length 29 of thewindbreaking plate 25 in the travel direction and drop in watertemperature of the radiator 19 (quantity of air passing through theradiator).

As can be understood from FIG. 3, the travel-direction length 29 of thewindbreaking plate 25 and drop in water temperature of the radiator 19(quantity of air passing through the radiator) have a relation such thatthe water temperature drop increases with the travel-direction length29, but, when the travel-direction length 29 exceeds a predeterminedlength, there appears a stable region 31 in which the water temperaturedrop does not change very much in spite of the increase in thetravel-direction length 29.

Therefore, so long as the travel-direction length 29 falls within thestable region 31, the travel-direction length 29 is not necessarilyrequired to be equal to the gap 30 between the cab 3 and the van 5.

Notably, the graph of FIG. 3 is obtained through experiments.

In the first embodiment, since the windbreaking plate 25 is provided onthe rear surface of the cab 3 as described above, the performance ofcooling the engine 13 can be readily improved at low cost. Therefore, anengine of high output can be mounted.

Next, a second embodiment will be described.

In the above-described truck 1, the van width 23 is equal to or smallerthan the cab width 21. In some trucks, the van width is made greaterthan the cab width, in order to increase the load capacity of the van.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a truck 45 according to the secondembodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the van width 41 is greater than the cab width 43.

In the case of such a truck 45, during travel, in addition to a downwardair flow 49 generated by a travel wind hitting an upper projectingportion of a van 47, side air flows 51 are generated by travel windshitting side projecting portions of the van 47.

After hitting the side projecting portions of the van 47, the side airflows 51 change their flow directions toward the engine 13, and hit theengine 13, which increases the pressure around the engine 13.

When the pressure around the engine 13 increases, the quantity of airpassing through the radiator 19 decreases, and the performance ofcooling the engine 13 deteriorates. That is, the applicant alsoconfirmed that the performance of cooling the engine 13 deteriorateswhen the van width 41 is greater than the cab width 43.

Since the van width 41 is greater than the cab width 43 in the truck 45according to the second embodiment, a windbreaking plate 53 which canprevent not only the downward air flow 49 but also the side airflows 51is provided (the details of the windbreaking plate will be describedlater).

FIGS. 5( a), 5(b), and 5(c) show the truck 45 according to the secondembodiment. FIG. 5( a) is a side view of the truck; FIG. 5( b) is a viewof the truck as viewed in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 5( a); andFIG. 5( c) is a view of the truck as viewed in the direction of arrow Fin FIG. 5( a). In FIGS. 5( a), 5(b), and 5(c), elements which providethe same functions as those in the truck 1 of the first embodiment aredenoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will notbe repeated.

The truck 45 according to the second embodiment has a structure similarto that of the truck 1 according to the first embodiment; however, asshown in FIG. 5( b), the truck 45 is designed such that the van width 41is greater than the cab width 43.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5( c), a width 54 of the windbreaking plate 53is approximately equal to an engine width 55. By virtue of thisconfiguration, as shown in FIG. 5( c), the flow direction of downwardair flow 49 is changed in the width direction of the truck such that airflows through sides of the engine 13.

The downward air flow 49, which is caused by the windbreaking plate 53to flow through the sides of the engine 13, prevents the side air flows51 from hitting the engine 13, and prevents the pressure around theengine 13 from increasing, to thereby prevent a lowering of theperformance of cooling the engine 13.

Further, because of the downward air flow 49, which flows through thesides of the engine 13, suction of the radiator intake air flow 32occurs, whereby the quantity of air passing through the radiator 19 canbe increased actively, and the performance of cooling the engine 13 isimproved.

That is, it is possible to simultaneously realize an increase in theload capacity through an increase in the width of the van 47 and animprovement in the performance of cooling the engine 13 throughprevention of pressure increase around the engine 13.

Notably, as shown in FIGS. 5( b) and 5(c), the windbreaking plate 53 isdesirably disposed immediately above the engine 13 such that an enginecenter line 57, which is the center line of the engine 13 with respectto the width direction of the truck, coincides with the center of thewindbreaking plate 53. However, in a case where such an arrangement isdifficult in view of design, the windbreaking plate 53 may be providedat a position where a portion of the windbreaking plate 53 is locatedabove the engine center line 57.

In the second embodiment, the windbreaking plate 53 is provided on thetruck 45, and the width 54 of the windbreaking plate 53 is approximatelyequal to the engine width 55 as described above.

Accordingly, even in the truck 45 designed such that the van width 41 isgreater than the cab width 43, the performance of cooling the engine 13can be readily improved at low cost. Therefore, an engine of high outputcan be mounted.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.

In the above-described trucks, the engine is exposed to the gap betweenthe cab and the van. However, in some trucks, not the engine but thedrive-force transmission apparatus such as the transmission is exposedto the gap between the cab and the van.

In this case as well, a downward air flow hits the transmission tothereby increase the pressure in the vicinity of the transmission, sothat the radiator intake air flow becomes difficult to pass through thevicinity of the transmission. In such a case, the quantity of airpassing through the radiator decreases, and the cooling performancedeteriorates. Therefore, measures similar to those in the case where theengine is exposed must be employed.

FIGS. 6( a), 6(b), and 6(c) show a truck 61 according to the thirdembodiment. FIG. 6( a) is a side view of the truck; FIG. 6( b) is a viewof the truck as viewed in the direction of arrow G in FIG. 6( a); andFIG. 6( c) is a view of the truck as viewed in the direction of arrow Hin FIG. 6( a). Notably, in FIGS. 6( a), 6(b), and 6(c), elements whichprovide the same functions as those in the truck 1 of the firstembodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and theirdescriptions will not be repeated.

The truck of the third embodiment differs from the truck 1 of the firstembodiment in that the transmission 17, rather than the engine 13, isexposed to the gap 30 between the cab 3 and the van 5.

As shown in FIGS. 6( a), 6(b), and 6(c), even when the transmission 17,rather than the engine 13, is exposed to the gap 30 between the cab 3and the van 5, through provision of the windbreaking plate 25, thedownward air flow 26 is prevented from hitting the transmission 17, andan increase in the pressure around the transmission 17 is prevented.

Accordingly, the radiator intake air flow 32 is improved, wherebydecrease in the quantity of air passing through the radiator 19 can besuppressed.

In the third embodiment, since the windbreaking plate 25 is provided onthe rear surface of the cab 3 as described above, even in the case wherethe transmission 17 is exposed to the gap between the van 3 and the cab5, the performance of cooling the engine 13 can be readily improved atlow cost. Therefore, an engine of high output can be mounted.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.

FIGS. 7( a), 7(b), and 7(c) show a truck 71 according to the fourthembodiment. FIG. 7( a) is a side view of the truck; FIG. 7( b) is a viewof the truck as viewed in the direction of arrow I in FIG. 7( a); andFIG. 7( c) is a view of the truck as viewed in the direction of arrow Jin FIG. 7( a). In FIGS. 7( a), 7(b), and 7(c), elements which providethe same functions as those in the truck 45 of the second embodiment aredenoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will notbe repeated.

The truck 71 according to the fourth embodiment differs from the truck45 according to the second embodiment in that the transmission 17 of thedrive-force transmission apparatus, rather than the engine 13, isexposed to the gap between the cab 3 and the van 47.

As shown in FIGS. 7( a) and 7(b), even when the transmission 17, ratherthan the engine 13, is exposed to the gap 30 between the cab 3 and thevan 47, through provision of the windbreaking plate 53, the downward airflow 49 is prevented from hitting the transmission 17, and an increasein the pressure around the transmission 17 is prevented.

Accordingly, the radiator intake air flow 32 is improved, wherebydecrease in the quantity of air passing through the radiator 19 can besuppressed.

In addition, since the width of the windbreaking plate 53 isapproximately equal to the width 56 of the transmission 17 as shown inFIG. 7( c), the flow direction of downward air flow 49 is changed in thewidth direction of the truck such that air flows through sides of thetransmission 17.

The downward air flow 49, which is caused by the windbreaking plate 53to flow through the sides of the transmission 17, prevents the side airflows 51 from hitting the transmission 17, and prevents the pressurearound the transmission 17 from increasing, to thereby prevent alowering of the performance of cooling the engine 13. Further, becauseof the downward air flow 49, which flows through the sides of thetransmission 17, suction of the radiator intake air flow 32 occurs,whereby the quantity of air passing through the radiator 19 can beincreased actively, and the performance of cooling the engine 13 isimproved.

That is, it is possible to simultaneously realize an increase in theload capacity through an increase in the width of the van 47 and animprovement in the performance of cooling the engine 13 throughprevention of pressure increase around the transmission 17.

In the fourth embodiment, the windbreaking plate 53 is provided on thetruck 71, and the width 54 of the windbreaking plate 53 is approximatelyequal to the width 56 of the transmission 17 as described above.

Accordingly, even in the truck 71 designed such that the transmission 17is exposed from the gap 30 between the van 47 and the cab 5 and the vanwidth 41 is greater than the cab width 43, the performance of coolingthe engine 13 can be readily improved at low cost. Therefore, an engineof high output can be mounted.

Here, the shapes of the windbreaking plates 25 and 53 used in the firstthrough fourth embodiments will be described.

FIGS. 8( a), 8(b), and 8(c) are views showing various shapes of thewindbreaking plates 25 and 53. FIG. 8( a) shows an ordinary shape, andFIGS. 8( b) and 8(c) show modifications of the shape of FIG. 8( a).

As shown in FIGS. 8( a), 8(b), and 8(c), each of the windbreaking plates25, 25 a, 25 b, 53, 53 a, and 53 b assumes a plate-like shape extendingin the horizontal direction.

Since the windbreaking plate 25 (53) assumes a plate-like shapeextending horizontally, it diverges the downward air flow 26 (49)flowing through the gap 30 between the cab 3 and the van 5 (47) to thesides of the cab 3 to thereby prevent an increase in pressure, whichwould otherwise occur at the downstream side of the radiator intake airflow 32 passing through the radiator 19. Therefore, the air havingpassed through the radiator 19 can be discharged effectively to thewidth direction of the truck or the lower side of the truck, whereby anexcellent cooling performance can be exhibited.

The windbreaking plate 25 (53) may assume a bent shape to be upwardlyconvex as in the case of the windbreaking plate 25 a (53 a) shown inFIG. 8( b) or a curved shape to be upwardly convex as in the case of thewindbreaking plate 25 b (53 b) shown in FIG. 8( c).

Notably, when the windbreaking plate 25 a or 53 a is attached to the cab3, the windbreaking plate 25 a or 53 a is desirably attached at alocation where a top line 75 or 77 coincides with the engine center line57.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described withreference to the accompanying drawings. However, the technical scope ofthe present invention is limited to the above-described embodiments. Itis clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive various changesand modifications within the technical idea described in the claims, andthey naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiments, the windbreaking plate 25 or 53 isattached to the cab 3; however, the windbreaking plate 25 or 53 may beattached to the van 5 or 47.

1. A truck characterized by comprising: a load container providedrearward of a cab and projecting upward from the cab; an engine providedunder the cab; a radiator provided forward of the engine; and awindbreaking section provided between the cab and the load container. 2.A truck according to claim 1, wherein the load container is formed tohave a width equal to or smaller than that of the cab, and thewindbreaking section is provided above the engine and formed to extendover a width approximately equal to the width of the cab.
 3. A truckaccording to claim 1, wherein the load container is formed to have awidth greater than that of the cab, and the windbreaking section isprovided above the engine across a center line of the engine withrespect to a width direction of the truck and formed to extend over awidth approximately equal to the width of the engine.
 4. A truckcharacterized by comprising: a load container provided rearward of a caband projecting upward from the cab; an engine provided under the cab; aradiator provided forward of the engine; a drive-force transmissionapparatus provided rearward of the engine; and a windbreaking sectionprovided between the cab and the load container.
 5. A truck according toclaim 4, wherein the load container is formed to have a width equal toor smaller than that of the cab, and the windbreaking section isprovided above the drive-force transmission apparatus and formed toextend over a width approximately equal to the width of the cab.
 6. Atruck according to claim 4, wherein the load container is formed to havea width greater than that of the cab, and the windbreaking section isprovided above the drive-force transmission apparatus across a centerline of the drive-force transmission apparatus with respect to a widthdirection of the truck and formed to extend over a width approximatelyequal to the width of the drive-force transmission apparatus.
 7. A truckaccording to claim 1, wherein the windbreaking section assumes aplate-like shape generally extending horizontally.
 8. A truck accordingto claim 7, wherein the plate-shaped windbreaking section assumes theform of a flat plate horizontally extending in a width direction of thecab.
 9. A truck according to claim 7, wherein the plate-shapedwindbreaking section is bent such that the windbreaking section isupwardly convex at a central portion thereof in the width direction ofthe cab.
 10. A truck according to claim 7, wherein the plate-shapedwindbreaking section is curved such that the windbreaking section isupwardly convex.
 11. A truck according to claim 4, wherein thewindbreaking section assumes a plate-like shape generally extendinghorizontally.
 12. A truck according to claim 11, wherein theplate-shaped windbreaking section assumes the form of a flat platehorizontally extending in a width direction of the cab.
 13. A truckaccording to claim 11, wherein the plate-shaped windbreaking section isbent such that the windbreaking section is upwardly convex at a centralportion thereof in the width direction of the cab.
 14. A truck accordingto claim 11, wherein the plate-shaped windbreaking section is curvedsuch that the windbreaking section is upwardly convex.